How Can I Tell if Phone Is Unlocked

February 17, 2022 Post a Comment

Many iPhones are locked to a specific network. Unlocked iPhones tin can exist used on any network, and are therefore worth more money. Hither'southward how to cheque which i you've got

Some iPhones are locked, some are unlocked, and it's of import to know which sort y'all've got. An unlocked iPhone can be used on any network, while a locked handset is tied to only one.

The iPhones you pay full price for (typically from the Apple Store) are unlocked by default. But an iPhone bought from a network, usually as part of an ongoing network program, will be locked. This is normally for a set period (24 months is mutual), and the monthly fee y'all pay covers part of the cost of the device - which is why you lot can't simply stop paying halfway through and walk away with the handset.

It's non possible to tell, but past looking at the iPhone, whether information technology'southward locked or unlocked: Apple does non allow other phone companies to brand iPhones. (Y'all don't get Three- or EE-branded iPhones, for example.) To misfile matters even further, some phones are locked when sold, but are unlocked at a afterward date when the owner finishes paying off the contract.

Simply don't worry. Information technology'due south relatively like shooting fish in a barrel to observe out if your iPhone is locked or unlocked, using either the Settings app or a SIM carte du jour, and in this article nosotros're going to bear witness yous how.

How to cheque if an iPhone is unlocked in Settings

The simplest method of checking if an iPhone is locked or unlocked is to check in the Settings app.

Open Settings.
Tap Mobile Information > Mobile Information Options. (If the device is ready to American English you'll demand to tap Cellular > Cellular Data instead.)
Check for an selection named Mobile Data Network (or Cellular Data Network).
If you see an selection for Mobile Data Network, your iPhone is well-nigh probable unlocked. This option should non announced on locked iPhones.

How to tell if an iPhone is locked or unlocked: Settings

This method is non 100 per cent effective, however, and we become the impression that it has become less accurate since the launch of iOS 13. If you need to know for certain - if you're ownership a 2d-hand iPhone, for example, and want to know if you're paying a fair price - you should use a SIM menu to check if it's unlocked. We'll walk through that method next.

How to check if an iPhone is unlocked using a SIM card

For this method it's best to have 2 SIM cards, from dissimilar networks. Follow these steps to check that the iPhone is unlocked:

Make a phone phone call using the current SIM card. Make sure it connects.
Power off the iPhone. Hold downwards the Sleep/Wake button and use the Slide to Ability Off option to switch off the iPhone.
Utilise the SIM-carte du jour ejector tool (or a paper prune) to eject the SIM menu from the iPhone.
Insert your new SIM menu.
Press the Sleep/Wake push to wake upwardly the iPhone.
Make a phone call. Check that the iPhone tin can connect a call using the new SIM card.

If the phone phone call does not connect with the new SIM bill of fare, the iPhone is locked.

How to tell if an iPhone is locked or unlocked: Slide to power off

Yous can sometimes get a carrier to unlock an iPhone by calling them, or use a 3rd-political party unlocking service such as Physician SIM. For more on that, see How to unlock an iPhone.

Contact your carrier

It's not such a quick solution - it may take a while for the carrier to go back to you - but if you need to know for certain then it may exist worth getting in touch with the network provider you've signed up to and seeing if they can help. Many carriers can bank check for you if you provide a handset's IMEI.

There are independent IMEI checking services too, but these services would e'er charge a fee for this (the legitimate ones would, at any charge per unit). Your carrier may well offer the service for free. It tin can't hurt to enquire, anyway.

Use an online IMEI checker

You know how to detect your IMEI, right? In one case you've got that code, yous can go to one of the many IMEI-checking tools online and detect out if the handset it's assigned to is locked or unlocked. The problem is that virtually of these services ask for a payment (although generally merely a few quid).

There are free services besides: yous could endeavour IMEI24.com, which appears legit and has been recommended by others. We must stress, yet, that we don't know the visitor and cannot vouch for its services - other than to say that we've tried it, it returned a bunch of information that was correct (virtually age and type of device, when it was purchased, how long the warranty had to run and like) and... it couldn't in the end tell united states whether our iOS 13-based iPhone 11 Pro was locked or not. If you lot'd paid for the service this would exist profoundly annoying.

How to check if an iPhone is locked or unlocked: IMEI checker

Farther reading

Now that y'all know whether your iPhone is locked or unlocked, y'all're equipped to take the next footstep.

If you lot needed this information because you want to sell it, read How to sell an iPhone for more advice. If you lot're passing it on to a youngster, on the other mitt, then How to set up parental controls may exist a more useful article.

Finally, retrieve to cheque out our guide to the best iPhone deals and contracts for advice on your side by side purchase.